Wrapping Up the project...

I hope you have enjoyed looking at ways to enjoy the holidays! I hope the recipes, web-sites, and new ways to think about exercise have inspired you. Creating a healthy holiday shouldn't mean deprivation or risk for your health. But rather, it is about options, the healthy and the not so healthy. It is about making conscious choices, without sacrifice. It is about enjoying all aspects of the season, including the food we choose to eat.

I have enjoyed sharing with you all, and will return my blog to its normal (boring) posts this week. Thank you for your help with this project, your comments have been helpful. If you can, would you answer the following questions and post in the comment section. My project is to be presented on Thursday. So I will be wrapping it up tomorrow.
Thanks again, Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays.
Paula

Questions:

1. Did you find the posts interesting?
2. Would you use any of the sites, recipes, or advice during this holiday season?
3. If this project was done over (like next year) what would you like to see?
4. What was your favorite post?


Blessings to you all, and thank you again

If you are not a follower, feel free to comment. I need at least 10 survey questioners answered. Mom you can type in for the girls in the office if they are willing to comment.

Who says exercise is hard?

Christmas is such a wonderful time, get outside and enjoy the sites. Grab your spouse, kids, grand-kids, or friends and hit the streets. Here are some fun ways to enjoy a walk...

Window Gazing

Downtown lights

A river walk to enjoy the decorated boats

Blessings

Big, Bad and Brown (Brownies)

Brownies are simply the best! Serve up a hot platter of chocolate gold and see if you don't feel like a millionaire (from all the complements of course)!! The cheesecake swirl takes these brownies over the top!

Eating Well

Holiday Cookies

Who says you can't enjoy the holidays? Who says you can't indulge in some heavenly cookies? The holidays are loaded with those treats that seem to appear in abundance once a year... And we tend to over indulge. Here are some wonderful cookies that are diabetic friendly and sure to please all.

These light and airy cookies are a chocolate lovers dream.

Molasses Crackles, nothing says winter like molasses.

eating well

Chocolate and Orange a true winter combination.Find recipe here

Why have our waistlines increased???

While doing research for several classes I found this interesting graphic. It shows how our plate sizes have helped to increase our waist sizes. Today our plates hold much more food, which means much more food enters our mouth. The standard plate size prior to the sixty's was about the size of a Dixie plate, you know the little paper plates you use at picnics. Yes, the ones that require several trips through the line just to sample what is on the table. You know the old saying Looks can be deceiving, well our plates are certainly holding true.


Do you happen to own a set of your grandmothers dishes, her pretty china, used only for special occasions? Take a look and see if this theory holds true, are your plates bigger or is this graphic fibbing?

Did you know that Americans consume approximately 500 more calories per day than in 1970?

Friendly Fillers

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Do you still have shopping to do? I thought it would be fun look at some healthy options for appetizers. I thought these simple ideas were something all could enjoy. I find these recipes to be quick and simple.

I know most of us tend to whip up all kinds of wonderful treats for the holidays, however they can take a toll on our body and health. Here are somethings to consider:

people eat at social gatherings,
they eat anything, no matter what you put out they will eat it... Trust me, they will.
Take advantage of this...

Serve a nice vegetable platter

Try these cuties, when placed in a nice serving bowl
they offer color and a sweet taste.
Try it, put some out and see if they don't disappear like magic.

To satisfy the sweet tooth, try maple popcorn.
Simple and filling.

Do you have any favorite go to healthy appetizers?

The Happy Hostess...

photo
Country Living

"To all who live in simple unpretentious houses, successful party-giving amounts to little more than the friendly enthusiasm of the host or hostess!
Etiquette- Emily Post

Don't you just love the simplicity of this table setting? I would love to set a table that looked like that. However, it never happens! There are several reasons, but the biggest is, how do you eat with all the ornaments on the table. Where do you put the food?

Entertaining should be fun and fuss free, wouldn't you agree? Buffets or pot-luck dinners are wonderful and help to decrease stress for the hostess. How do entertain during the holidays? Are you formal or laid back? Do you have a large menu and many guests? Do you keep it simple and limit the food?

Tomorrow I would like to talk about appetizers. I thought we could spend some time looking at healthy options that are filling and delicious. Ideas that won't have you tied to the kitchen and worn out by the time guests arrive. Dishes that will allow you to be a Happy Hostess. I'll see you tomorrow be sure to bring your favorite recipes.

Warm fires

I am a few weeks away from completing the semester. I have been busy with papers, exams, lesson plans and life in general. As fall lingers to a halt here in my neck of the woods, I find my mind wandering to anything and everything that does not involve school. In fact here are the things I would rather be doing...

Sitting in front a nice warm fire,
Knitting a baby sweater,
baking nice hot bread,
reading a sweet novel,
drinking a hot cup of coco,
lingering with friends around the table,
enjoying family and friends, and finally
sitting at the feet of my Lord.

But most of this will have to wait, just a little while. I will force myself to focus on these last few weeks of school and then take a much needed break.
PS~
I thought we could have some fun these next few weeks and see if we can look at ways to enjoy the holidays without adding extra pounds. We can look at ways to have a healthy festive holiday season. Would you like to exchange recipes, and have a little fun? I sure would.

Giving your body what it needs...

Hello everyone,

I wanted to say thank you to my friends and family for their responses. Any help is much appreciated, and means the world to me.

Now on to the good stuff!
I know we will be looking at nutrition and its benefits in managing diabetes, however, I feel I must mention the one word that is taboo... Exercise... Yes, there I said it, I had to.
I can't stress how important exercise is to the management of diabetes. Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body.

Our bodies were designed to work, and work is what it needs. Exercise helps to increase the metabolism. It dilates blood vessels and helps to decrease blood pressure. It helps the way our bodies process food during digestion. Exercise helps with weight loss. Finally, it is so important for those with diabetes, because it helps increase blood circulation to the limbs.

30 mins a day can make a huge difference. Studies show that exercise has a much greater effect on lowering blood sugar levels compared to diet alone. The two in combination work even better to bring down blood sugar levels.
So if you are able to exercise, give it a try!

The second thing your body needs is water. Most of us are dehydrated to some degree. If you are not getting enough water, your blood is much more concentrated which in turn increase your blood sugar levels. So proper hydration may help to lower your blood sugar levels to some degree.


Finally I want to ask you what type of questions do you have? Are there specific questions you have about managing diabetes? I don't know if I will be able to answer all the questions, but I will do my best.
This week I would like to talk about the forbidden foods, carbohydrates, I would like to look at why they are so critical in managing diabetes. I would like to answer questions you have about them. I will try to explain the difference between them.

I will be back tomorrow- when I am not so tired and hopefully my post will be much clearer.
Good night for now.

Taking a poll...

Hello everyone,

I am sorry for such a long absence, I have been busy with school, children and loving my husband who has been home for a month.

On to my purpose:

Many of you may know that I am attending the local university, where I am happily working on my degree in nutrition, with the hopes of becoming a Registered Dietitian. For my health communications course I am required to do an out of class education project. I am looking to use my blog for this purpose, and any of you who may want to participate. I am required to have up to 10 feedback comments for the assignment.
I am looking to discuss dietary related issues for individuals with diabetes. Are any of you interested in learning how to control or prevent diabetes, whether it is for you or a loved one. This is the area I plan to work in when I graduate, and have been researching it for 2 other classes. I would love for you to be a part of this journey if you are willing.

I must stress I am not a nutritionist, only a student, and will not be able to give medical advice. I plan to discuss current research, dietary intake, exercise, and recipes. If you are interested would you mind answering a few questions? You can post them in the comments section.

1. Are you at risk for developing diabetes? Family history or being over weight may be indicators.
2. Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? If so how long ago.
3. Is your diabetes under control?
4. Do you understand how diet effects your diabetes? Have you been given proper education in dietary management, other than a pamphlet?
5. Do you believe you could benefit from further dietary education?

Thank you so much for your help, please pass the word to anyone you think may benefit. This project will run through Dec 1, and may continue if needed.

Paula